The British government last week backed down from pursuing parts of its Equality Bill after Pope Benedict XVI condemned it as a threat to religious freedom.
The legislation would have removed the Church’s right to refuse employing certain lay staff including, for instance, the right of a Catholic school to employ a Catholic as a head teacher. The government’s decision came after a furore in Britain following the Holy Father’s remarks to the Bishops of England and Wales over such legislation.
A British government source told the Daily Telegraph that following Pope Benedict’s comments, the government will withdraw the controversial provisions of the “Equality Bill” that threaten to undermine religious freedom.
“We are clear that these parts of the Equality Bill should not go forward,” said the source. “The Pope’s intervention has been noted.”
According to The Times newspaper: “Ministers were astonished on Monday when the Pope said that the Bill violated “natural justice” and urged Bishops to fight it. But that attack, along with the strength of opposition in the Lords and the limited time left to get Bills passed before the election, has sapped the Government’s enthusiasm to continue the fight.”
The Times also reported that although Harriet Harman, the minister responsible for the legislation, made no mention of the Pope’s visit to Britain this year, “it is understood that the Government did not want the dispute to overshadow preparations”.
On 1 February, the Pope told the Bishops that the Bill and other types of similar legislation would “impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs. In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed. I urge you as pastors to ensure that the Church’s moral teaching be always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended.”
The Holy Father’s words caused outrage in sections of the media, with some arguing that the Pope should not meddle in British politics.
Others had drawn up a petition to protest against his visit which is expected to take place in September. A senior official said the reaction took many by surprise as the words of the Pope were to be expected.